The Entrepreneurs Guide to Business Planning

The Entrepreneurs Guide to Business PlanningYour plan must be for an idea that is linked to Life Sciences with a Biological component. Theidea could be based on your undergraduate research project, a scientific paper you haveread, a scientific product you have used, a published patent or your own idea. Examplesinclude: new scientific equipment; providing a service for scientific companies; products thatare used in food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, biotechnology industries; environmentalproducts etc. Provided there is a Biological component this should be acceptable, if you areunsure about your idea ask before writing the plan.The criteria for the assessment of the elevator pitch will be the marks given by the panel an effective presentation, coverage of key attributes of business proposal including economic and commercial considerations plus inclusion of statements of key details that an investor would need to follow up on the presentation. Criteria for the assessment of the business plan will include the standard of presentation and analysis of the business, the feasibility of the project, the projected capital and financial structures and the evidence of economic and commercial understanding within the plan, especially presentation of it to potential investors. The criteria for assessment of the skills for preparation of a CV will be with reference to an “ideal” CV issued to the students, with particular attention paid to neatness, intelligence of presentation and content.1. understand all the economic and commercial considerations which determine successful development of scientific research discoveries;2. befamiliarwiththewiderangeofapproachesusedtostart,runandcontribute to a Bioscience linked Business;3. develop a critical understanding of the different methods and resources used to plan a commercial venture in the Bioscience Industry;4. be able to use patenting and other methods to protect intellectual property rights;5. generate and present business plans that include an appropriate CV with respect to biotechnological products.Writing a Business PlanThis document contains some suggestions on what your Business Plan should contain, although these should notbe viewed as rules or requirements but only as guidelines.Phase 1: Firstly you will develop an idea. The aim will be to write a short summary of your idea for a business.This can be based on the template (IdeaTemplate.doc), which is available on Blackboard. This document will formthe background to build your plan around. In effect it can form a draft of your Executive Summary.Your idea should be based around a single publication as the technology you are building your imaginaryBusiness around. This publication can be a piece of scientific research (use Science Direct or PubMed Central toaccess full papers) or a patent publication (use the European Patent Database for a downloadable pdf of apatent).As part of the course you will be required to make a short 2 minute elevator-pitch presentation to staff andstudents in week 5 and this Phase 1 idea is a useful preparation for this section.Phase 2: The IdeaTemplate has a well-defined structure and can be built on in your Business Plan. However, theplan will be a longer document with fewer restrictions on the structure than in the Phase 1 and will be in the formof a business plan. The business plan must cover a number of topics, but can be expected to include:• Executive Summary• Background• Product and Sevices Description• Market analysis• Financial Projections• Risk analysisAgain, there are notes on writing a business plan later in this handbook. Sample business plans can be found onthe internet. Please note that your plan will be submitted through Turnitin and you must be very careful not to cutand paste from these sites. You are required to give a presentation on your plan in Week 12 and it will be veryclear to the examiners how well you understand your plan.Phase 3: A real Business? This section gives advice on how to take such a venture from a plan to a reality……The Entrepreneurs Guide to Business PlanningPHASE 1 – THE IDEA SUMMARYThe first stage of evaluating an idea is a short summary of the idea. This is sometimes known as the PreliminaryVenture Analysis (PVA).A PVA is a framework for a quick analysis of a business opportunity. It provides a concise overview of key factorsrelating to the likely viability and success of the business idea, and provides a framework for deciding whethermore detailed work and investment of time and energy is warranted. It can play an important role in helping tocommunicate the nature of the opportunity to other interested parties.What Should the Summary Look Like?There is no ‘one right way’ to construct a PVA. However, the following framework is strongly suggested. Thedocument should start with a short executive summary and a brief discussion of the proposed venture under thefollowing headings. The complete document should be short – no more than two to three sides of A4 at most! So,it is important to remember that the following topics and questions are indications of what you should think aboutand not all of the points will need to be covered in the summary – only the most important points are relevant.Opportunity conditionsExamine the context in which the opportunity occurs. For example, why does the opportunity exist, what is thetime frame in which it occurs, can the opportunity be captured?• Feasibility – technical and marketing• Competitive advantages – core competency – “why us”?• Pay-off – over the next 5-7 years• Time window for this opportunity• Can the opportunity be harvested? Do you have an exit strategy?• Product/service strategy is sound• Entry strategy is sound• Linkage between technology and the market• Why is this opportunity for you? Can a team be built to do this?Describe your businessWhat have you got that is of value? Describe what it is, what its development status is, what the first product andfuture products are, what does it do, and not do? Also include here your intellectual property position, e.g. can itbe protected?• Description of the business.• Development status – current status, time to first sale; tasks and resources needed.• Protectability (intellectual property position – copyright/patent?).• First products/services, follow-on products/services.• Customers – first customers and why they will buy from you. Later customers.• Strengths/weaknesses of product/service.Examine the marketWhat does the market for your product or service look like? What is the size of the market and what trends arerelevant? How is the market segmented, who are your customers, how will you reach them, how will you enter themarket?• Size and trends – 3 or 4 years history and 5 years future.• Customers – prior direct contact, in-person survey, the buying decision.• Entry marketing plan – products, customers, marketing and sales effort, number of units, sales, growthrate (5 year projection).Examine the competition• What is nature of the competitive environment? Who is doing it now, who are they, where are they, howare they doing it, and what are their strengths and weaknesses?• Names of competitors, location, size, products sold, strengths, weaknesses, age, sales tactics, pricing,financials.Examine the economics• Describe your business model. How much will your product or service cost, how long to profitability,where is the money coming from, and are the risks and rewards acceptable?• Estimate of selling price, costs, margins, Break Even, months to Break Even, months to positive cashflow, Return on equity, estimate of capital needed for start-up and for 2nd year and 3rd year sales, sourceof funds.Examine the potential team required• Do you have ability to make it happen? What are your strengths, skills and experience? What evidencedo you have of past achievements, what skills are lacking and how will gaps in your team be filled?• Commitment of founders.• Relevant experience.• Team voids – how will they be filled? When?• Positions, responsibilities, ownership of founders and team members.Risks and Problems• Demonstrate that you have considered the challenges you will face. How will you protect the downside,what is your exit strategy, and how will you minimise the chances of failure?• Risks and problems – impact on venture, how to minimize.• Overall risk of venture. Changes in venture concept• Identify changes in concept of venture resulting from above analysis.• Decision -GO or NO GO.Next stepsWhat do you need to make your venture happen? What are the next steps, where do we go from here, what doyou want?Usually the amount needed to develop the market is underestimated – you need to include channel developmentand customer education.Usually marketing people are brought on too late in a company’s development.Finally, ask yourself: “why hasn’t someone done this before?”The Entrepreneurs Guide to Business PlanningPHASE 2 – THE BUSINESS PLANThe business plan can mean different things to different people and can be modified to suit a particular purpose.Broadly speaking the business plan should explain the nature of the company’s business, what it wants to achieveand how it is going to do it. The company’s management should prepare the plan and should set challenging butachievable goals.In essence, much of what will be included in a business plan is an extension of the information already consideredin the idea summary (see previous section) and is a natural extension of it.Frequently the Business Plan is used to raise investment in the business. The business plan must thereforeconvince the investor that the company and the management team have the ability to achieve the goals of thecompany within the specified time of the plan. The length of the business plan depends on the particularcircumstances but, as a general rule, it should be no longer than six to ten pages. It is important to use plainEnglish – especially if you are explaining technical details.The following covers the important areas of a business plan and can be applied to almost any business. Theformat and structure of a business plan though can vary widely depending on the business in question and theperspective of the people putting the plan together.Important Areas to CoverExecutive SummaryThis is the most important section and is often best written last. It summarises your business plan and is placed atthe front of the document. It is vital to give this summary significant thought and time, as it may well determine theamount of consideration an investor will give to your detailed proposal.It should be clearly written and powerfully persuasive, yet balance “sales talk” with realism in order to beconvincing. It should be limited to no more than two pages and include the key elements of the business plan.Background on the companyProvide a summary of the fundamental nature of the company and its activities, a brief history of the company andan outline of the company’s objectives.The product or serviceExplain the company’s product or service in plain English. This is especially important if the product or service istechnically orientated. A non-specialist must be able to understand the plan.• Emphasise the product, or service’s competitive edge or unique selling point.• Describe the stage of development of the product’s or service. Is there an opportunity to develop asecond-generation product in due course? Is the product or service vulnerable to technologicalredundancy?• If relevant, explain what legal protection you have on the product, such as patents obtained, pending orrequired. Assess the impact of legal protection on the marketability of the product.Market analysisYou need to convince the investor that there is a real commercial opportunity for the business and its productsand services. Offer the reader a combination of clear description and analysis, including a realistic “SWOT”(strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis.• Define your market and explain in what industry sector your company operates. What is the size of thewhole market? What are the prospects for this market? How developed is the market as a whole, ie.developing, growing, mature, declining?• How does your company fit within this market? Who are your competitors? For what proportion of themarket do they account? What is their strategic positioning? What are their strengths and weaknesses?What are the barriers to new entrants?• Describe the distribution channels. Who are your customers? Comment on the price sensitivity of themarket.• Explain the historic problems faced by the business and its products or services in the market. Havethese problems been overcome, and if so, how? Address the current issues, concerns and risks affectingyour business and the industry in which it operates.• What are your projections for the company and the market? Assess future potential problems and howthey will be tackled, minimised or avoided.MarketingHaving defined the relevant market and its opportunities, it is necessary to address how the prospective businesswill exploit these opportunities.• Outline your sales and distribution strategy. What is your planned sales force? What are your strategiesfor different markets? What distribution channels are you planning to use and how do these compare withyour competitors’? Identify overseas market access issues and how these will be resolved.• What is your pricing strategy? How does this compare with your competitors’?• What are your advertising, public relations and promotion plans?Business operationsExplain how your business operates:• Explain how you make the products or provide the service, first in brief and then in more detail.• What are the sources of raw materials?• Who are your suppliers?• What are the labour requirements? What is the company’s approach to industrial relations?• Outline your company’s approach to research and development.The management teamDemonstrate that the company has the quality of management to be able to turn the business plan into reality.The senior management team ideally should be experienced in complementary areas, such as managementstrategy, finance and marketing, and their roles should be specified. The special abilities each member brings tothe venture should be explained. A concise curriculum vitae should be included for each team member,highlighting the individual’s previous track record.• Identify the current and potential skills gaps and explain how you aim to fill them. Investors will sometimesassist in locating experienced managers where an important post is unfilled, provided they are convincedabout the other aspects of your plan.• Explain your controls, performance measures and remuneration for management, employees and others.• List your auditors and other advisers.• Include organisation chart.Financial projectionsDescribe the company’s business model and how funds will be used.• Explain the research undertaken to support these assumptions.• What are the costs associated with the business? Remember to split sales costs (e.g. communications topotential and current customers) and marketing costs (e.g. research into potential sales areas).• What are the sale prices or fee charging structures?Keep the plan feasible. Avoid being overly optimistic. Highlight challenges and show how they will be met.Risks, Investment and Exit opportunitiesState how much finance is required by your business and from what sources (i.e. management, venture capital,banks and others) and explain the purpose for which it will be applied. Outline the capital structure and ownershipbefore and after financing.• Consider how any investors will exit the investment and make a return. Possible exit strategies for theinvestors may include floating the company on a stock exchange or selling the company to a trade buyer.• Show that you have considered the risks and challenges you will face. How will you protect the downsideand how will you minimise the chances of failure.PHASE 3 – A REAL BUSINESSPRESENTING YOUR IDEASo, you have your product or service, you have your business plan, you’ve looked at the market and you’vecompiled your list of possible funding sources – what now?It is time to sell your idea to those with the money – in other words, it’s time to pitch.Pitching in WritingSuccessful pitching is a combination of many things, but primarily -luck, timing and skill. To begin with, your initialpitch letter needs to:• get to the right person;• get to the point;• get their attention;• get their confidence that you are a pro; and• not get too long-winded. Remember – the person you’re aiming to entice into business with you is likely toget information overload every day. Keep it short, concise and simple.Here are some suggestions that may help in the initial stages of pitching your idea.Do your homework. Know about the investor you’re approaching. Find out everything you can about them, theircompany, their operations and their mission. Show you fit in with their long-term vision.Phone first. Call the company before you even put fingers to keyboard. Get a name – the right contact person tosend your information to. If you don’t do this, you may as well not send the pitch in at all.Network, network, network. Yes, you’ve heard it a thousand times, and that’s because it’s true networking is agreat way to unearth contacts, and contacts often mean that pitching is that little bit easier. It is much moredifficult to get a positive response from cold calling. If someone is prepared to introduce you to a potentialinvestor, you already have your foot in that proverbial door, before you even open your mouth.Write a punchy pitch letter. A good pitch letter consists of a lead, a body and a close. Take the time to write acatchy lead that grabs their attention, then compose some brief and interesting text about your idea and lastly,wrap it up as fast as politely possible. Your pitch letter is crucial to getting interest in your idea. Sometimes it is theonly thing a potential investor has time to read, so if you lose them in the letter, you’ve lost them – period.Pitching in PersonBut what if you get that “one in a million” chance to verbally pitch your idea, face to face to your intended target?Be it in an elevator, a party or a boardroom – here are some basic guidelines on how to survive the verbal pitch.Know this: verbal pitching is an art form comprised of about 50% solid homework and 50% improvisational skill. Ifyou are not too good at public speaking, go and do a course, or start practicing in front of a mirror or your familyor friends. Confidence is the key and you’ll need lots of it to successfully verbally pitch your idea.Don’t forget: you have about 60 seconds to win your target investor over. First impressions do count, so makesure yours is a good one. You’re not only selling your business idea – you’re selling yourself.Research, research, research. Be professional and be clear. Know what you’re talking about inside-out. If you’renot sure what you’re pitching, neither will the investor, and you’ll lose your chance of securing interest.The in-the-room improvisation requires a lot of instinct. Learn how to “read” the people listening to your pitch. Ifthey start to glaze over – hit them with the best angle on your idea: clearly, succinctly and forcefully. This kind of pitching isn’t called the “hard sell” for nothing!Be passionate about your business. If you are excited about it’s potential and have backed up that excitementwith cold, hard business research, the odds are that your target will “catch” your enthusiasm. If they themselvescan’t help you with your business, then they are likely to then suggest others you should talk to.This is what you have to remember in pitching. Keep your pitch short (2-3 min), even shorter if the idea’s prettysimple (1-2 min). You give someone a 15-20 minute pitch, they probably stop listening half way through.The Ten Commandments for Verbal Pitching1. Know your business idea backwards and be professional, yet passionate.2. Give the buyer an emotional/personal investment in the idea. If they’re talking, let them.3. Get them involved.4. Your goal is to reach a point of intimacy. Be responsive, listen to them and hear what they want.5. Don’t rely on notes – they distance you. Have them, but don’t rely on them. Include everybody present inyour pitch (assistants too).6. Make comparisons to successful businesses.7. Don’t pitch what you don’t believe in. Know their business and their background well.8. Refer to it in the pitch.9. Don’t promise what you don’t intend to deliver.10. When it’s sold, shut up. Remember: You usually get just one shot at a pitch, so you better be great!


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